Method and apparatus for molding and securing rubber objects to fabric



July 1s, 1939. H, GORA A 2,166,490- V METHOD ANI? APPARATUS FOR MOLDING AND SECURING RUBBER OBJECTS TO FABRIC July 1s, 1939. H. @RA l 2,166,490

METHOD AND -APPARATUS FOR MOLDVING AND SECURING RUBBER OBJECTS TO FABRIC Filed Oct. 17, 1955 l0 Sheets-Sheet 2 H. GoRA 2,166,490 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MOLDING AND SECURING RUBBER OBJECTS TO FABRIIC July 1s, 1939.

Filed oct. 17, 1935 ,1o 'sheets-shed s GDNv -Ju1y 18, 1939. H. GoRA 2,166,490 METHOD ND APARTUS FOR HOLDING ANB SECURING RUBBER OBJECTS I'To FABRIC Filed Oct. 17, 1935 @www 1o sheets-sheet 4V H. GORA July 18, 1939.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MOLDING AND SECURING RUBBER OBJECTS FABRIC Filed Oc. 17, 1935 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 July 18, 1939. H. GORA 2,166,490-

METHOD .AND APPARATUS FOR MOLDING AND SECURING RUBBER OBJECTS T0 FABRIC Filed oct. 17, 1935 1o sheets-sheet e gy Y Ew@ w f\ A w I i N f l H. GORA 2,166,490

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MOLDING AND SECURING RUBBER OBJECTS T0 FABRIC I July 18, 1939.

Filed Oct. 17, 1955 1o sheets-shed 7 NON NQN BGN New @47 (Yanni/Low,

O H. GoRA July 1s, 1939.

`METHOD AND` AISPARATUS FOR MOLDIG AND SECURING RUBBER OBJECTS T0 FABRIC Filed oct. 1'?, 1935 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 H. GORA METHOD AND APPARATUS lFOR MODDING AND SBCURING RUBBER OBJECTS To FABRIC lJuly 1s, 1939.

Filed oct. 17, 1935 1o sheets-sheets July 1s, 1939.

H. GORA -v METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MOLDING AND SECURING RUBBER OBJECTS T0 FABRIC 1o sheets-Sheet 1o Filed Oct. 17, 1935' Q IIIIII Patented `uly 18, 1939 l UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I METHOD AND APPARATUS AFOR MOLDING AND SECURING RUBBER OBJECTS T' FABRIC Henry Gora, Bridgeport; Conn., assignor to Jen-l kins Bros., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application October 17, 1935, Serial No. 45,476

21 claims.

porters of the type embodying a fabric strip or tab having a rubber button secured to one end thereof. and a wedge-shaped member, also of rubber, at its other end for securing or locking the strip to the loop member of the support-er.

As will be seen from Fig. 18 of the accompanying drawings, one article to the manufacture of which the method and apparatus of the present invention is particularly well adapted consists of a strip or tab of cloth or similar fabric to one end of which is vulcanized a button of rubber or like material While at the other end it carries a transversely extending, wedge-shaped locking member or shoulder formed of the same material as the button and likewise vulcanized to the fabric. It has been proposed heretofore, as in the patent'to Hawie, No. 1,426,636, to provide supporter elements of this same general construction using, however, a piece of rubber as 25 the supporting web instead of a fabric strip as is now proposed. In making these all-rubber elements it has been the practice to mold each one separately as a solid, integral piece of rubber. While hose supporters of this construction have been fairly satisfactory, the rubber strips oftentimes lose their elasticity due to excessive or repeated stretching, and in many cases are actually torn apart, thereby becoming useless and necessitating replacement while the rest of the supporter is still serviceable. By using fabric instead of rubber for this portion of the supporter, this defect can be overcome and the service life of the article increased materially over that of the all-rubber element.`

economically manufacturing elements such as hose supporters in which it is desired to secure rubber objects to supporting webs or strips of fabric. The use of metal connecting means is objectionable particularly in an article such asa garter because of the contact with the body. Sewing the parts together is likewise unsatisfactory because of the excess time and labor involved. 50 It has therefore been suggested, as illustrated by the patent to White-No. 1,159,559, that the union between the rubber and the fabric supporting strip be effected by vulcanizsation. However, so far as is known, there has never before been provided 55 any `Satisfactory method or machine for auto- Difficulty has been experienced, however, in`

matically manufacturing elements of this construction.

It is therefore one of the objects of this invention to provide both a novel method and a mechanism of new and useful construction for eiciently and economically molding articles of various kinds and shapes from rubber and securing said articles to supporting strips or tabs of fabric by vulcanization.

Another object is to provide a novel machine -for automatically molding rubber elements for adherence of molded rubber articles to fabric such as cloth.

A still further object is to provide a novelly constructed mechanism for making compositehose attaching elements of garters on a practical production basis. l

Generally speaking, the method of the present invention involves the molding' of a plurality of elements, such as garterbuttons and locking members, from uncured rubber and the securing of said elements to a strip of fabric at spaced intervals therealong by vulcanization, after which the fabric strip and its adhering elements are cut and trimmed in such a manner as to form the desired individual articles. The machine for carrying out this procedure, which is also part of the invention, may be'described broadly as comprising a rotatable molding wheel in the periphery of which are located a plurality of circumferentially spaced molds adapted to form the buttons and locking members of garter elements of the type previously mentioned, means for loading charges of uncured rubber into said molds, means for feeding a strip of fabric on top of and in contact with the rubber in the molds, means for applying pressure and heat to the fabric and rubber to effect molding and curing of the rubber and attachment thereof to the fabric, and means for stripping the resulting product from the mold wheel and for cutting and trimming it into individual garter elements.

Although it is already known to vulcanize strips of rubber or rubberized fabric by drawing the strips over heated cylinders or rolls and simultaneously exerting pressure thereon by means of an overlying endless belt, the machines heretofore available are not suitable for present purposes since they do not embody feeding, loading, molding and cutting mechanisms which are capable of handling two different materials at the same time and producing therefrom individual articles of the desired composite character.

Consequently, it is still another object of the present invention to provide a machine for simultaneously molding rubber articles and securing them to fabric wherein there are combined with a peripheral molding wheel cooperating mechanisms of novel construction for feeding to the wheel the materials to be molded and secured together, for applying the molding and vulcanizing pressure and heat, and for stripping from the wheel, cutting and trimming to desired form the product resulting from the molding and vulcanizing operations.

These and other objects, including the provision of novel mechanism whereby the various driving, feeding, loading, molding, vulcanizing, stripping, cutting and trimming operations of a machine of the character described may be correlated and synchronized, will appear more fully upon a consideration of the detailed description of the embodiment of the invention which follows. Although only one particular form of machine is described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it is to be expressly understood that these drawings are for the purpose of illustration vonly and are not to be construed as defining the scope of the invention, reference being had for this purpose to the appended claims.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a machine for automatically manufacturing the hose attaching elements of garters representing one embodiment of the method and apparatus of the present invention;

Figs. 2 and 3 are plan and end elevation views,

respectively, of the machine shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is an end elevation on an enlarged scale of a portiomof the drive for the machine shown in Figs. 1-3 with certain elements shown in section;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the mold Wheel of Figs. 1-4 'and a section through certain of its associated elements taken approximately on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Figs. 6 and 7 are plan and sectional views, respectively, of one of the belt adjusting pulleys of the machine shown in Figs. 1-3;

Figs. 8 and 8b are plan views of the two portions of a mold adapted for use with the mold wheel shown in detail in Figs. 4 and 5;

Fig. 9 is a radial section through the periphery of the mold wheel taken substantially on -line 9-9 of Flg. 5;

Figs. 10 and 1,1 are enlarged plan and elevation views, respectively, with certain parts shown in section, of the loading mechanism of the machine shown in Figs. 1-3;

Figs. 12, 13 and 14 are enlarged plan, side elevation and end elevation views, respectively, of the unloading, cutting and trimming mechanism of the machine shown in Figs. 1-3;

Figs. 15 and 16 are enlarged plan and elevation views, respectively, of the unloading carrier member of Figs. 12,13 and 14;

Fig. 17 is an inverted perspective view of a cutting element adapted for use with the cutting and trimming mechanism of Figs. 12, 13 and 14;

Fig. 18 is a perspective view of one of the individual garter elements produced by the method and apparatus of the present invention;

Figs. 19 and 20 are plan and side elevation views, respectively, of a portion of the continuous fabric strip and its adhering molded rubber garter buttons and lockingshoulders in the form in which it appears after being stripped from the molding wheel;

Fig. 21 is a fragmentary perspective view of a modified form of molding wheel adapted for the simultaneous production of a plurality of strips;

and

Fig. 22 is av sectional view through one of the mold carrying bars shown in Fig. 21.

Referring now to the drawings, the machine I embodying the present invention disclosed there-- in may be said to comprise four principal groups of cooperating elements: first, an intermittently rotatable, peripheral molding wheel 2| around a substantial portion of the periphery of which passes an endless belt or band 22 preferably of metal, said belt being maintained under tension so as to exert a pressure against molding wheel 2| by its passage around grooved pulleys or rollers 23, 24 and 25 the positions of which are adjustable so as to vary the tension of the belt; second, an automatic loading or feeding mechanism, indicated generally at 26, located at a point slightly in advance of that at which molding wheel 2| passes beneath pulley 24 and belt 22, which delivers charges of uncured rubber to the molds carried in the periphery of molding wheel 2| and then brings a continuous strip of fabric into contact with the periphery of said wheel and the exposed surfaces of the rubber in said molds; third, an automatic unloading mechanism, indicated generally at 21, located at a point just beyond that at which belt 22 leaves the wheel 2| and passes around pulley 25, which strips or removes the continuous fabric strip with its adhering molded rubber buttons and locking shoulders from wheel 2|; and fourth, a mechanism associated with the unloading mechanism which cuts and trims the fabric strip into individual garter elements each having a button at' one end and a locking shoulder at the other. All four of these groups of elements, together with a common driving mechanism which includes means for correlating and synchronizing the action of all of the movable parts of the machine, are supported by a suitable framework 28. f

In order to 'simplify the disclosure of the invention, each of the four main portions of the mechanism will be described separately as follows:

The molding wheel As shown best in Figs. 4 and 5, molding wheel 2| is preferably provided with a cylindrical periphery 29 in which are formed at circumferentially spaced intervals recesses 30 adapted'to receive molds of a character later to 'be described. The periphery 29 of wheel 2| is connected to a hollow elongated hub 3| by a suitable web 32 which may be provided with lightening openings 33, if desired. Hub 3| is rotatably supported in a suitable bearing block 34 which is adjustably supported in a saddle member 35, the latter in turn being mounted in any desired manner on framework 28.

The outer portion of web 32 of wheel 2| is enlarged as indicated at 36 so as to provide an annular heating chamber 31 extending entirely around the wheel just beneath the central portion of the periphery 29 in which mold recessesy 30 are formed. Suitable means are then provided for supplying steam or other heating medium to chamber 31 so that sumcient heat may be transferred to the rubber within the molds to effect curing and adhesion thereof to the overlying strip of fabric by vulcanization during the rotation of the wheel. Inv the form shown, pipe connections 38 and 39, which are carried by and rotatable with wheel 2|, are connected at their,

outer ends to annular chamber 31 on opposite sides of a partition 46 and serve as the inlet and outlet, respectively, for the heating medium. The

opposite ends-of pipe connections 38 and 39 pass canization of the rubber contained in the molds of the wheel during the time required for rotation of the wheel through the distance corresponding to said extent of contact. In the embodiment illustrated, pulleys 24 and 25 are supported by means of bearing blocks 44 and 45 in such positions that they are substantially tangent Ato the periphery of Wheel 2| at points approximately 120 apart, pulley 24 being adjacent the top of the wheel and pulley 25 adjacent the bottom thereof, a construction which brings belt 22 into contact with the wheel throughout approximately two-thirds of its circumference. Pulley 23 is supported in a yposition substantially equi-distant from pulleys 24 and 25 on the opposite side of wheel 2| therefrom and out of contact with the latter.

In order'that the tension of belt 22, and the resultant pressure against the periphery of moldl ing wheel 2|, may be varied as desired, the position of pulley 23 is adjustable with respect to both pulleys 24 and 25 and Wheel 2|. As shown, pulley 23 is rotatably supported Aat the upper end of a lever 46 which is fulcrumedl at 41 in an adjustable bearing block 48 slidably supported for movement toward and away from wheel 2| between a pair of bracket arms 49 which extend horizontally outwardly from a base plate 56 suitably secured to framework 28. The position of bearing block 48 maybe adjusted by means of suitable set screws IL In setting up the machine, the general slackness of belt 22 is taken up by adjustment of the position of bearing block 48 which effects a bodily movement of lever 46 and pulley 23. After bearing block 48 has been set in position and locked by set screws 5|, the final 4or une adjustment of the tension of belt 22 is made by movement of lever 46 about its fulcrum point 41. For this purpose, suitable means 52 of any desired construction are provided for applying a variable force to the bottom end of lever-46 acting to move said lever in. a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. l, about its fulcrum point 41 so as to move the axis of rotation of pulley 23 further away from pulleys 24 and 25 and thereby increase the tension in belt 22. In the preferred embodiment, force applying means 52 vincludes a suitable resilient member such as a spring 53 which may be combined with a scale of any desired construc- 'tion for indicating the amount of force applied and the resultant tension inbelt 22.

As previously pointed out, pulley 24 is substantially tangent' to the periphery of molding wheel 2|, the result beingthat this pulley exerts a positive force against the periphery of the wheel through the medium of belt 22. The pressure thus exerted by pulley 24 constitutes the real molding-pressure which forces the rubber supplied to the molding Wheel by loading mechanism 26 to completely fill the molds carried thereby, it being the function of belt 22 to continue or maintain a molding pressure during the time that wheel 2| rotates through approximately 240, the time that the rubber remains in the molds for curing and adhesion tothe fabric strip;

In order that the' molding `pressure exerted by pulley 24 may be `adjusted to any desired amount, means are provided for varying the distance between the axis of rotation of said pulley and.- that of wheel 2| without affecting to any material extent the tension of and-pressure exerted by belt 22. As shown best in Figs. 6 and 7, pulley 24 is rotatably mounted on a stub shaft 54 whichisI secured to, but eccentrically offset from the axisof, a. slightly larger stub shaft 55 which is in turn normally tightly clamped between the upper and lower halves of a bearing block 44 as by studs 56.

The lower half of bearing block 44 is secured t0` a'saddle member 51 by studs 58,the latter passing through holes 59 in said block which are elongated in a direction at right angles to the vaxis of stub shaft 55. Saddle member 51, which may be suitably supported by framework 28, is then provided -the bearing block for purposes of belt alignment in a direction approximately perpendicular to the line joining the axes of stub shaft 55 and hub 3| of wheel 2| when studs 58 are loosened. Set screws 60 are preferably staggered with respect to one another so as to balance the couple 'set-ul) in `the pulley bearing structure by the eccentric arrangement of the stub shafts.

By loosening studs 56 which hold the upper half of block 44 to the lower'half and normally clamp stub shaft 55 in non-rotatable position, and applying a wrench to the hexagonal end of stub shaft 55, the latter and its eccentrically mounted stub shaft 54 may be rotatedwithin the bearing so as to bring the axis of stub shaft 54 and its pulley 24 closer to or further from wheel 2| The molding pressure exerted by pulley 24 upon the rubber in the molds of wheel 2|' can thus-be regulated as desired. Any slack' which maybe Acreated in belt 22 by this adjustment of pulley 24 is automatically taken up by spring 53' of force applying means 52 associated-with pulley 23.

The construction of bearing block 45 and the associated elements providing the support for pulley 25 is preferably the same as that just 'described in connection with block 44 and pulley 24, although it will be understood that there is no necessity for any pressure, variable or otherwise, by pulley 25 against molding wheel 2|; instead, the adjustability of the mounting of this pulley is utilized only for ease in assembling the machine and in initially adjusting belt 22 about the molding wheel, a result to which the adjustable mounting of pulley 24 also contributes. For

example, since belt 22 is endless, its assembly in the machine must be accomplished by passing it laterally between the peripheries of molding wheel 2| and pulleys 24 and 25. By releasing the studs 56 of bearing blocks 44 and 45, these pulleys may be moved away from wheel 2| sufciently to permit the insertion of belt 22, after which the pulleys are returned to and secured in their proper positions before final tensioning of the belt by means of pulley 23.

As previously mentioned, molding wheel 2| is adapted to be rotated intermittenly so that the rubber and fabric which are utilized in making the individual garter elements produced by the machine may be easily supplied to and removed from the wheel and the necessary molding, curing, securing, cutting and trimming operations may be readily carried out in properly timed relation to one another. However, it will be understood `that by suitable changes in the mechanical movements of the elements, the rotation of the molding wheel might be made continuous instead of intermittent.

In the embodiment shown,.the source of driving power for all of the elements of the machine is an electric motor 6| which may be mounted in any desired manner as on a table 62 secured to framework 28. The shaft of motor 6| is preferably connected through a clutch 63 to a speed reduction mechanism 64 of any suitable construction, which mechanism is drivingly connected to and continuously rotates a sprocket wheel 65 through the -medium of a suitable driving chain 66..y The direction of rotation of sprocket Wheel 65 is counterclockwise as -viewed in Fig. l. The shaft 61 of sprocket wheel 65,

which may b denominated the main timing shaft ofthe entire machine, is rotatably journalled in a suitable bearing 68 carried by a supporting bracket 68 which is in turn mounted on table 62. Secured to sprocket wheel 65, as by bolts 18, and concentric therewith, is an annular plate 1| (Figs. 1-4) which carries a'laterally projecting roller 12, this roller being so positioned that once-in every revolution of sprocket wheel 65 and plate 1| it engages one of the open slots 13 of a Geneva gear 14 mounted on a shaft 15, .the latter also being journalled in supporting bracket 69. Plate 1| is also provided with the usual circular boss 16 the surface of which concentric with plate 1| engages the concave surface of Geneva gear 14 between each pair of .slots 13 so as to prevent the gear from rotating except when driven by roller 12, boss 16 being cut away at 11 to provide a clearance space for the projecting arms of the Geneva-gear when the latter is rotated by roller 12.

Shaft. 15 of Geneva gear 14 also has secured 'thereto a pinion 18 which meshes with and intermittently drives a gear 19 secured to the hub 3| of molding wheel 2|. With this construction, the continuous counterclockwise rotation of sprocket wheel 65 and its timing shaft 61 is converted, through the medium of Geneva gear 14 and its associated driving mechanism, into intermittent counterclockwise movement of molding wheel 2|, the dimensions of the parts and the gear ratios being so selected that each actuation of the molding wheel moves it through a distance equal to that betwensuccessive mold recesses 38. Since belt 22 is maintained in contact with the p Irlphery of wheel 2| under substantial tension, it engages the wheel with considerable pressure and thereby creates su'icient friction that rotation of the Wlieel carries with it belt 22 and moves the latter around its pulleys 23, 24 and 25 without the necessity for any positive drive thereof.

Referring now to the molds which are carried in recesses 30 of wheel 2|, each mold is so constructed as to form both a'garter button and a wedge-shaped locking shoulder as an integral unit, the button and locking shoulder remaining integral with one another during the entire vulcanizing treatment and until the individual garter elements are formed by operation of the cutv ting and trimming means later to be described.

As shown best in Figs. 8a, 8b and 9, each mold is made in two parts and 8| which are superposed one over the other ina recess 38 and are secured in place in any suitable manner as by screws 82. The inner or lower mold member 88 is provided with a substantially. cup-shaped cavity 83 which is adapted to form the head of a garter button. The upper or outer mold member 8| is provided with a cavity of more complex shape, the portion 84, wich connects with cavity 83 in the lower mold member being shaped to form the shank of a garter button, notchshaped portion 85 forming a locking shoulder, and portion 86, which is substantially annular in shape, serving to provide a base for the button. Grooves 86', spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the Width of the fabric strip, may be provided to receive the major portion of the excess rubber which isloaded into fthe mold. The entire surface of mold member 8| between grooves 86 is adapted to be covered by rubber, this rubber serving both to join the button and locking shoulder into an integral unit and, since it is also the part which lies in contact with the fabric strip, to unite the integrally formed button and locking shoulder to the strip through vulcanization.

The feeding and loading mechanism The novel mechanism which has been provided for feeding the rubber and fabric to the mold Wheel and for loading the rubber in the molds and l bringing the fabric into contact therewith is best illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11. As there shown, the stock of uncuredrubber from which successive charges are cut and loaded into the molds of mold wheel 2| is supported in the form of a coiled strip 8l', which may be roundv or of any desired cross section, on a suitable pan or table 88 in a position adjacent the loading mechanism 26. In order that the height of pan 88 may be adjusted to proper feeding position,it is mounted on the top of a rod or post 89 which is vertically slidable at its lower end within a supporting standard 98.

From the coil on pan 88, the rubber passes to a pair of knurled feed rollers 9| and 92'which engage' the strip 81 and advance it in a direction substantially parallel to the axis 0fA rotation of wheel 2| until it reaches a loading position between a die 83 and a loading plunger 94. Asuitable guide 85 may be provided for directing the rubber into'proper position with respect to die 93 and loadingplunger 94 are all supported in operative position by a bracket 96 secured to framework 28, said l'die and plunger being so located that they are in line with one of the positions in which the successive molds of molding wheel 2| come to rest.

In order that the movements of feed rollers 9| and 92 and loading plunger 94 may -be properly correlated with one another and with the movement of wheel 2|, common means have been provided for controlling the actuation of these elements in timed relation to the intermittent rotation of the molding wheel. As shown, timing shaft 61, which is continuously rotated-by'sprocket wheel 65, is provided with an eccentric 91 driving a connecting rod 98 the upper end of which is secured to a crank arm 99 iixedly mounted on one end of a horizontal shaft |00. Shaft |00 is rotatably supported adjacent its ends in suitable bearings formed in arms |0| which extend outwardly from bracket 96. Secured to shaft |09 intermediate its ends is a downwardly depending lever |02 having anelongated slot |03 formed therein adapted to receive a bolt |04 which-can thus be secured to the lever in any desired position therealong. The head of bolt |04 is provided with a chamferedhole |05 through which passes one end of a rod |06. 'I'he extent of movement of lever |02 and bolt |04 relative to rod |96 is determined by the positions of lock nuts |01 and |08 which are threaded onto rod |06 on opposite sides of the head of bolt |04.

The other end of rod |06 is connected to a lever |09 through a swlveljoint H0, said lever |09 being rotatably mounted on thelower end of a shaft .which may be supported in a suitabl bearing carried by bracket 96 with its axis in a position substantially at right angles to the-axis of shaft |00 and to the axis or line of alignment of die 93 and loading plunger 94. Lever |09 also carries a pawl ||2 which is normally urged into engagement with the teeth of a ratchet wheel I3 by a spring ||4, ratchet I3 being secured to shaft As shown best in Fig, 10, pawl ||2 and f ratchet wheel ||3 are so constructed that when rod |06 is moved to the left, as viewed in Fig. 1l, by engagement of the head of bolt |04 with lock nut |01 upon oscillation of shaft |00 andlever |02 in a clockwise direction, pawl ||2 engages ratchet I3 and rotates the latter together with its shaft in a counterclockwise drection.-

Movement of rod |06 in the opposite direction, due to the engagement of the head ofv bolt |04 'with lock nut |00 when lever |02 and shaft |00 are oscillated in a counterclockwise direction, produces no rotational movement of ratchet I I3 and shaft l|| sincepawl ||2 is so formed as to pass freely over the teeth of ratchet ||3 when moved in this direction. e

Secured to the upper end of and intermittently rotatable with shaft is one of feed rollers 9|,

92 which advance the unvulcanized rubber stock to loading position, the' other of said rollers being mounted on the upper end of a shaft ||5 which is also journalled in a suitable bearing carried by bracket 96 and is rotated in synchronism with shaft through a pair-of gears H6 which drivingly connect these two shafts. lIn order to prevent any backlash movement of I gears H6, shafts' and H5, and feed rollers 9| and 92 when pawl ||2 is moved in a clockwise direction, a friction brake I |1 may be provided to engage the lower ends of shafts and H5, the tension of which brake Vmay be'regulated `inany desired 'y in the periphery of wheel 2|.

manner as by the cooperation of a nut ||8 and spring ||9.

Through the driving mechanism just described feed rollers 9| and 92 are intermittently rotated once during every rotation of main timing shaft 61 so as to advance the uncured rubber stock in strip-like form to the loading position in line with die 93. After the rubber strip 81 comes to rest necting rod- 98 and shaft 00. As shown, shaft |00 has secured thereto, adjacent the end opposite that to which connecting rod 98 is connected, an upwardly extending lever |20`the upper end of which is connected to plunger 94 by means of alink |2|. Oscillation of shaft |00 and lever |20 this moves plunger 94 toward and away from die 93 and the periphery of molding wheel 2|, said plunger being guided in its movements by a suitable housing |22 -through which it slides and which is secured to bracket 96. The inner end of vplunger 94 carries areplaceable pin |23 the forward end of which is recessed and sharpened on the edges toA facilitate severing of the charges of rubber from strip 81 and forcing of the charges through die 93 and into the molds Since lever |20 which actuates loading plunger 94 extends in an approximately diametrically opposite direction from lever |02 which drives feed rollers 9| and 92. and since there is a certain amount of lost motion between lever- |02 and. rod |06 due to the form of the connection therebetween and the locations of lock nuts |01 and |08, it will be understood that the charging movement of plunger 94 and pin |23 takes .place while feed rollers 9| and 92 are atrest, and that during the time that said rollers are advancing the vrubber strip 91 for the next-charging operation pin |23 has already been withdrawn to the right, as viewed in Fig. 11, beyond the line of feed of said strip. v

The fabric to which the objects molded from the rubber. thus loaded in the molds of wheel 2| are to be secured is introduced between belt 22 and the periphery of wheel 2|, and thus brought into contact with the exposed surfaces of the rubber in the molds,at a point just beyond the rubber loading station. As shown best in Figs. 1, 5 and ll, the fabric is supplied in the form of a continuous strip |24 from a roll |25 which is rotatably supported above vthe rubber loading mechanism 26 by a suitable arm or bracket |26, said arm being secured to the' framework 28 in any suitable mannenas by attachment to the lower half of bearing block 44 by means of studs 58. From roll |25 the' fabric strip |24 passes downwardly towardthe periphery of molding wheel 2| and around a guide roller |21 which may be mounted in suitable position on supporting bracket 96 of the rubber loading mechanism. From guide roller |21 the fabric strip is led forkin this position, the loading plunger 94, actuated vby the mechanism next to be described, severs a Ward beneath pulley 24 until it passes between belt 22 and the periphery of molding 'Wheel 2| Yat which time it is forced tightly against the exposed surfas of the rubber in the molds by the pressure` of pulley 24.

During the rotation `oif wheel 2| from the point at which belt 22 -iirst comes into contacttherewith beneath pulley 24 until the belt leaves the wheel and passes around pulley 25, the fabric l-st'rip |24 is held tightly against the periphery of the wheel and in contact with thejrubber in the 4molds under` a constant pressure exerted by belt 22. During this time the rubber in the molds medium which continuously flows through annular heating chamber 31 of the wheel. As previously pointed out, the time required for rotationiof wheel 2| from pulley 24' to pulley 25 is such as to permit completion of the curing and vulcanizing operation. Consequently,`when any particular point on the molding wheel passes pulley and the belt 22 leaves the Wheel, the rubber objects in the mold at that point are completely cured and secured to the fabric strip |24, and the fabric and its adhering rubber objectsv are ready to be stripped from the wheel for the finishing cutting, and trimming operations. Y

The unloadngmechanism The fabric strip and its adhering molded rubber objects, garter button and locking shoulders in the embodiment illustrated, l,are stripped or peeled from molding wheel 2| and moved to a cutting and trimming station by the mechanism indicated generally at 21, the details of which areshown best in Figs. 12-16. Generally speaking, the unloading mechanism comprises a. reciprocable member which is movable toward and away from the periphery of mold wheel 2| l and is provided with a carrier of such construction as to engage one of the molded rubber objects secured to the fabric strip and to pull the strip away from the wheel and advance the portion already separated therefrom to a position in registration with the cutting and trimming mechanism later to be described.

Referring now to Figs. 12-14, both the unloading and the cutting and trimming mechanisms are supported by a substantially rectangular, horizontal table member |28 which extends outwardly from' a position closely adjacent the periphery of wheel 2| just above pulley 25, said member also providing a surface over which the fabric strip |24 is drawn by the unloading mechanism. Table member |28 is supported at its inner end by a suitable bracket |29 secured to framework 26 and at its outer end by a strut or brace |30 which is .also fastened to said framework. I

Positioned to one side of table memberV |28, and parallel to the plane of wheel 2|, is an elongated guide member |3| having two parallel vertical walls |32 and a bottom Wall |33 which extends laterally beyond one of vertical walls |32 and beneath table member |28, thereby providing a.

' As shown, the outwardly projecting portion of main slide |34 is provided intermediate its ends with a suitable bearing boss |35 in which is'journalled'a stub shaft |36 having its axis at right angles to the length of slide |34. One end of stub shaft |36 extends laterally over table member |28 and has secured thereto, in a position substantially coplanar with molding wheel 2|, a

A carrier member |31. As shown best in Figs. 15

and 16, carrier member |31 is provided with a pair of fingers |36 and |39 the ends of which are lseparated by a relatively short distance only slightly greater than the Width of the cutting or shearing element later to be described, which element, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated, severs each garter button |40 from its t integrally molded locking shoulder |4| (see Figs.

19 and 20), trims oif anyv excess rubber |1I, and

' tegrally molded locking shoulder |4I in such a manner that, if main slide |34 is then moved away from the molding wheel, or to the right as viewed in Fig. 13, the fabric strip |24 and its adhering molded rubber buttons |40 and locking shoulders |4| will be drawn away from the molding wheel. To assist in th1s operation, the end of finger |30, which is squared to conform to the shape of the locking shoulder end of each garter element, may be provided with a downwardly depending lug |43 of such shape and size as to similarly engage a locking shoulder |4I, although it will be understood that engagement of the locking shoulder is not at all essential t`o the operationv of the unloading means. Both ngers |38 and |39 and lugs |42 and |43 are so constructed as to cover and protect the garter buttons `and locking shoulders during the cutting and trimming operation.

Although in unloading the fabric strip and itsv adhering molded rubber garter buttons from the molding wheel it is necessary for the head of each button to pass through the shank portion of its mold which is smaller in diameter than the head,

it has been found in practice that the rubber of the molded button is at this time still warm and sufficiently resilient to permit stripping out vof the mold without distortion of its shape, particularly when the stripping action is relatively rapid as in the case of the mechanism disclosed.

In order that the movement of carrier |31/may be correlated and synchronized with the other elements of the machine, novel means are provided for actuating said carrier in timed relation to the movements of molding wheel 2|. In the form shown, main slide |34 has mounted on the outer end thereof a block |44 which surrounds and is slidable along said slide through a distance defined by stop pins |45 and |46, pin |45 limiting the movement of block |44 relative to slide |34 in a direction toward the molding wheel while pin |46 limits said movement in the opposite direction. This relative movement between block |44 and slide |34 is provided for the purpose of rotating stub shaft |36 within its bearing |35 so as to lower and raise carrier member |31 into and out 'of engagement with the garter buttons |40 and A locking shoulders |4| of the fabric strip |24 as 75 block |44 has pivotally connected thereto one end of a forwardly extending link |41 the other end of which is pivotally connected to the outer end of a le'ver |48 which is secured to stub shaft |36.

The movement of block |44, which by its engagement with stop pins |45 and |46 also produces movementv of main slide |44, is derived from Geneva gear 14 through the following mechanism. Secured to the shaft 15 of Geneva gear 14, or preferably fastened directly to the latter, is a gear |49 which meshes withand drives a smaller gear |50 mounted on a shaft |5|, the latter being suitably journalled in a bearing block |52 secured to supporting bracket 69. Inthe particular machine disclosed, the gear ratio between gears `|49 and |50 is-four to one. Eccentrically connected to the shaft |5| of gear |50 is one end of a connecting rod |53 the other end of which is pivotally secured to the lower end of a lever |54 having its upper end secured to a stub shaft |55. Stub shaft |55 is rotatably-supported in a suitable bearing |56 which may be mounted on a bracket |51' secured at its upper end to thesaddle member in which the bearing block 45 of pulley 25 is housed. The end of stub shaft |55 closest to the plane of molding wheel 2| has secured thereto the lower endof a lever |58 the upper endI of which has an adjustable pin and slot connection with one end of a link |59 the opposite end of which is pivotally secured to block |44.

With this construction, during each quarter rotation of Geneva gear 14, which rotates molding wheel 2| through a distance equal to that between successive molds, gear |50 makes a complete revolution and, through the link and lever connections described, moves block |44, main slide |34 and carrier memberl |31 from their at rest positions shown in Fig. 13, which they occupy during the cutting and trimming operation, in-

wardly toward the mold wheel so as to engage an unsevered portion bf the fabric strip |24 and then outwardly again to remove another section of the fabric strip and itseadhering molded rubber buttons and locking shoulders from wheel 2| and to advance the same to cutting and trimming position. From the at'rest position of the elements, the initial movement of block` |44 to the-left, as viewed in Fig. 13, is relative to main slide |34 and serves simply to tilt carrier member |31 upwardlythrough the medium of link |41, lever |48 and shaft |36 to a position in which lugs |42 and |43 are above' the level of the tops of garter buttons |40 asthe fabric strip |24 lies on table member, |28. As soon as block |44 comesinto engagement with stop pin |45, continued movement of said block inwardly toward the mold wheel carries with it main slide |44 and carrier member |31. When the inward movement of block |44 is completed, as determined by the position of the vpoint of eccentric connection between `connecting rod |53 and gear |50, carrier member '|31 lies directly above another garter button |40 and locking shoulder |4|. Consequently, when block |44 commences its outward movement in the opposite direction, which movement is relative to main slide |34 until the block engages stop 'pin |46, stub shaft |36 of carrier member |31 is rst rocked so as to lower said carrier mernber and bring lugs |42 and |43 into engagement with the garter button and locking shoulder. Continued movement of block |44 and slide |34 then moves the unsevered portion of fabric strip |24 outwardly away from molding wheel2| until the rotation of gear |50 is completed when of the and link |59 permits adjustment of the at rest position of block |44, main slide |34 and carrier member |31 so that these elements may be properly aligned with the cutting and trimming mechanism next to be described. In order to assist in fixing this at rest position'of main slide |34 and its associated elements, a suitable bracket |60 may be secured to the outer end of table member |28 and provided with an adjustable stop member |6| positioned inline with the end of slide |34. For the purpose of preventing undesired movement o f main slide |34 during the times that block |44 is moving relatively thereto between st-op pins |45 and |46, one of the vertical walls |32 of guide member |3| may be provided with'a suitable opening housing an elongated friction bar |62 which is yieldingly urged into frictional engagement with the side of slide |34, as by a blade spring |63.

To assist in guiding the fabric strip and its adhering rubber buttons and locking shoulders as it is stripped from molding wheel 2| and moved to the cutting and trimming positionby the mechanism just described, table member |28 may have secured to its upper surface, intermediate its inner edge and the cutting and trimming station, a pair of guide blocks |64 which are spaced apart suiiiciently .to permit the passage of the tops of the garter buttons therebetween but undercut so as to .overlie the side edges of the fabric strip. Secured to the inner end lof one of guide blocks |64 there may also be provided guide plate |65 of resilientconstruction under the upturned Aend of which the fabric strip passes as it comes from the molding wheel, while toward the outer end of said guide blocks there may be located a tension finger |66 which extends downwardly between blocks |64 and exerts a yielding pressuretending to hold the strip atly on the surface of table member |28. The tension of finger |66 is derived from a suitable spring |61 which tends to rotate said finger about its supporting shaft |68, the latter being adjustably secured to the top of one of guide blocks |64 by a suitable bifurcated member |69. The end of tension finger |66 may be curved as indicated at |10 to facilitate the passage therebeneath of the garter buttons.

The cutting and trimming mechanism As the continuous fabric strip |24 is stripped from molding wheel 2| and moved to the cutting and trimming station in the manner previously,

described, each garter button |40 and thel adjacent locking member |4| are integrally united by the rubber which occupied a portion of the cavity 86 of upper'mold member 8|. There is also often an overflow of rubber beyond the edges of the fabric strip, asindicated at |1| in Fig. 19, which must be trimmed off when forming the individual garter elements. Accordingly-the in'- vention also includes a cutting and Itrimming mechanism which simultaneously severs A each button |40 from its integrally molded locking shoulder |4I, cuts the fabric strip at the point of severancebetween button and locking shoulder, and trims off any excess rubber which may adhere to the strip.

As shown, acutting and trimming element |12 (see Fig. 17), which isso shaped as to simultaneously perform all of the cutting and trimming operations just mentioned, is removably secured to the lower end of a plunger |13 which is vertically reciprocable within a suitable guide block |14 supported in proper position above table member |28 by a bracket ,|15. In order that cutting and trimming element .|12 may maintain its 4proper position during repeated operations,

p1unger`|13 andthe passageway through guide block |14. are preferably made rectangular in cross section so that there can be no movement of the plunger about a vertical axis which might turn cutting and trimming element |12 out of its proper position.

Plunger |13 and its cutting and trimming element |12 are given a vertical reciprocation in timed relation to the operation of the other elements of the machine by means of a vertically extending connecting link |16 which is connected at its lower end to plunger |13 and at its upper end to a lever |11 secured to shaft |00 of the loading mechanism 26 closely adjacent lever |20 which -actuates loading plunger 94. As has previously been described, shaft |00 is continuously oscillated bymeans of connecting rod 98 and its eccentric connection 91 to main timing shaft 61. The eccentric 91 is so arranged that the last part of the downward or cutting stroke of plunger'l13 and cutting and trimming element |12 takes place just after the molding wheel 2| and the unloading mechanism are brought to rest in the positions indicated in Fig. 13.A

In order to facilitate the cutting and trimming operation and the disposal of the excess fabric and rubber which is cut and trimmed from the finished garter elements, the table member |28l may be provided with suitable vertical grooves or openings |18 therein of suitable size and shape to receive the solid portions of cutting and trimming element |12. Means may also be provided for engaging the portion of the fabric strip which is being` severed from the. main body thereof so as to maintainA the strip under tension during the cutting and trimming operation. 'To 'this end, a vertical rod |19 may be secured to connecting link |16, or to plunger |13, if desired, on the side thereof opposite that towards the molding wheel 2|, said rod carrying on its lower end a spring |80 which is adapted tc engage and be compressed against the upper surface of the fabric strip beyond the line of cut so as to hold the same tightly Although it is believed that the mode of opera.- tion of the machine of the present invention will be apparent from the preceding disclosure, thev and then by movement of lever 46 about its fulcrum 41 by means of force applying means 52, and by adjusting the position of pulley 24 with respect to molding wheel 2| in the manner pre- Vviously described so as to` provide the'desred 'ing entirely around the owheel through pipe connection 39 and exhaust line 42. Assuming that each. of recesses 30 of. molding wheel 2| contains molds of the form shown in Figs. 8a, 8b and 9, the Imachine is now readyfor the automatic formation of individual garter elements of the form shown in Fig. 18 each having a molded rubber garter button and a locking shoulderl secured; by vulcanization to the opposite ends of a strip of fabric.

and continuously driven by motor 6| through clutch 63, speed reduction mechanism 64 and the chain drive to sprocket wheelA 65. Once vin every rotation of shaft 61 moldingv wheel 2| is moved through a distancev equal` to that between successive molds, the intermittent drive of said wheel being transmitted thereto through Geneva gear 14 and its associated mechanism. Each time that molding wheel 2| comes to rest, one of the molds lies in direct alignment with die 93 and loading plunger 94.

During the time that molding wheel 2| is being movedthat is, during the first quarter revolution of sprocket wheel 65 and timing shaft 6l from the position shown in Fig. l-shaft |00 and levers |02, |20 and |11 (operating the feed rollers 9| 'and 92, loading plunger '94 and cutting and trimming element |12, respectively) are moved from the positions indicated in Fig. 1 in a clockwisel direction through the medium of connecting rod 98 and eccentric 91. These movements of the levers in turn take up the lost movement between lever |02 and rod |06 and begin movement of the latter to the left so as to rotate feeding rolls 9| and 92, move loading plunger 94 and its pin |23 outwardly away from the molding wheel througha distance equal to half of their total travel on the return stroke, and lower the molded garter buttons.

During this same first quarter revolution of sprocket wheel 65 and timing shaft 61, the unloadingmechanism makes a complete cycle due to the fact that gear |50 makes a whole revolution during a quarter revolution of the Geneva gear 14. Starting from the position shown in Fig. l, the first portion of the revolution of gear |50 produces a movement of block |44 to the left relative to main slide |34 and elevates carrier member |31, so that the lugs |42 and |43 of fingers |38 and |39 are lifted out'of engagement with the gater button and locking shoulder which have been severed from one another on the preceding cutting stroke. When block |44 engages stop pin |45 continued rotation of gear |50 moves block |44, slide |34 and carrier member |31 inwardly toward the molding wheel as a unit until, at the end of the first half revolution of gear 50, the carrier member is in a position overhanging the next integrally formed button and locking shoulder. The first portion of the second half revolution of gear |50 then slides block |44 rearwardly relative to main slide |34 until it engages stop pin |46, a movement which lowers carrier member |31 to a position in which the underlying garter button and locking shoulder are engaged by lugs |42 and |43. The re\ mainder of the second half revolution of. gear |50 produces a return movement of block |44, slide |34 and carrier member I 31 to the cutting position, during which movement the, continuous fabric strip |24 and its adhering buttons and 75 l0 Main timing shaft 61 is.then Aset inl operation I locking shoulders are pulled away from molding wheel 2| and advanced to a position in which the button 'and locking shoulder engaged by, carrier member |31 are brought to rest directly beneath cutting and trimmingelements |12. During the next three quarters of the revolution of sprocket wheel 65 and timing shaft 61, the unloading mechanism, like molding wheel 2|, remains at rest.

The rubber loading and the cutting and trimming mechanisms, however, continue their cycles vafter the molding wheel and the unloading mechanism complete their movements. For example, the second quarter revolution of timing shaft 61, after the molding wheel comes to rest, produces the final portion of the outward movement of plunger 94 and its pin |23, and also completes the movement of rod |06 inwardlyto its extreme left hand position, as viewed in Fig. l, thereby finishing the feed of rubber strip 81 to the loading position in line with die 93. At the same time,

lever |11 moves cutting and4 trimming element |12 through the final portion ofl its cutting stroke during which it cuts and trims an individual garter element from the continuous strip which has been removed from the molding wheel by the unloading mechanism as previously described. During the last portion 'of this second quarter revolution of timing shaft 61, the direction of movement of connecting rod 98 is reversed and the counterclockwise oscillation of shaft |00 and its associated levers begins', thereby reversing the directions of movement of the loading and cutting mechanism.

The next, or third,'quarter revolution of the timing shaft continues the loading stroke of loading plunger 94 and pin |23 and the upward o1' return stroke of cutting and trimming'element |12. During this same time lever |02 is oscillated in a counterclockwise direction and, after taking up the lost motion, moves rod |06 outwardly to the right, thereby returning .pawl ||2 to its original `position relative to ratchet ||3 while feed rollers 9| and 92 remain at rest.

The next and nal quarter revolution of the vtiming shaft results in completion of the loading stroke of loading plunger 94 and pin |23, whereby a lcharge of rubber is severed from strip 81 and forcedthrough die 93 into the mold which then lies opposite said die, and of the return strokes (to the right and upwardly, respectively) of rod |06 and cutting and trimming element |12. During the lastv part of this final quarter revolution, the directions of movement of connecting rod 98, shaft |00 and the levers associated there; with areA again reversed, thereby -commencing the withdrawal stroke of the loading plunger and the cutting stroke of the element |12. 'Ihe loading pin |23 is moved clear of the mold wheel just before this quarter revolution of timing shaft 61 ends so that the Wheel is free to make its next intermittent movement as soon. as roller 12 enters the open slot 13 of the Geneva gear 1I` as previously described.

After each mold has been loaded with its charge of uncured rubber, the next few intermittent movements of molding wheel 2| bring the mold and its charge first beneath fabric strip |24 which leads from guide roller |21 to its rpoint of contact jivith the -periphery of the Wheel and then beneath belt 22 as the latter passes beneath pulley 24. At this point, namely, the point of initial contact between belt 22 andthe periphery of the molding wheel, the principal molding 4pressure is exerted on the rubber by pulley 2l" mold. During movement of the molding wheel from this point to the point approximately 240 distant where the belt 22 leaves the periphery of the wheel, said belt exerts a substantially constant pressure against the fabric strip forcing the latter into contact with'the exposed surface of the rubber in the mold and maintaining a molding pressuie, on the rubber. At the same time, the heat transmitted to the rubber from heating chamber 31'effects curing thereof in the molded form and adhesion to the fabric strip through vulcanization. As a result, when each mold reaches the point at which belt 22 leaves the periphery of the molding wheel, the rubber withinthe mold is completely cured and securely fastened to the fabric strip.

V'The cycle thus described is repeated automatically due to the continuous rotation of timing shaft 61, the result being that the individual garter elements are rapidly and efficiently produced one after another with little or no manual attention.

There is thus provided by the present invention both a novel methodand a new and useful apparatus for automatically molding vobjects from uncured rubber' or like material, securing them to a strip of cloth or similar fabric by vulcanization, and cutting the product thus formed into individual elements each having the molded objects secured to a piece of the fabric at desired locations. The invention is particularly well adapted to the manufacture of individual garter elements of the type having a molded rubber button and a locking shoulder of the same material secured to the opposite ends of aV strip or tab of fabric, and has been so described, although it will be appreciated that it is not limited to the production of this particular article. 'I'he method disclosed provides a simple and ecient procedure for making a product of this character which lends itself readily to automatic machine operation. Not only is the mechanism provided by the invention novel in the combination of cooperating elements whereby is accomplished the hitherto unattained result of eciently manufacturing garter elements of this type on a production basis, but the various constituent units' of the combination also comprise improvements over devices intended for similar purposes. The machine also includes mechanism of novel construction for controlling and correlating the movements of the various operative elements each of which performs`its intended function in cooperation and timed relation with the others so as to produce a unitary machine which is automatic, efficient and reliable in operation. By using the mechanism and method of this invention, it is possible/both to manufacture an 'article' which is a substantial improvement over similar articles previously known to the art and.

trated, particularly as regards the various link,

lever andshaft arrangements 'by which the movements of jthe elements are transmitted from lss one to the other. As one example of such a change, a cam of any desired configuration might be substituted for the eccentric which actuates connecting rod 98, which cam might produce only intermittent movement of said connecting rod instead of continuously reciprocating it as is done by the eccentric. It is also obvious that the mechanism disclosed may be used for manufacturing various products other than the specific form of garter element disclosed, attention being directed to the fact that the molds of the molding wheel are removable and maybe replaced so as to form objects of any desired character. In this connection, it is apparent that, instead of forming integral units each consisting of one garter button and one locking member, pairs of buttons and pairs of locking members may be integrally produced and secured to the fabric in alternation. Likewise, the pin of the loading plunger and the cutting and trimming element are made replaceable so that the machine may be adapted to turn out products of varying size and shape.

Furthermore, although the machine herein disclosed`comprises only a single production unit,

it will beunderstood that a plurality of like units may be so constructed and connected in cooperating relationship that they will function togetherin accordance with the invention. For example, as shown in Figs. 21 and 22, the molding wheel 2| may be made sufficiently wide to accommodate a plurality of parallel series of molds so that a number of strips may be produced `simultaneously. In this embodiment ofthe invention, the periphery of .the molding wheel i.

ing formed in the upper surface thereof a row of mold recesses |83. The molds |84, which may be of the same construction as that shown in Figs. 8a and 8b, are secured in place in recesses |83 in'any suitable manner as by screws |85, each mold carrying b ar |82 then being fastened in its groove |8| by screws |86. It will be understood that in this multipletype machine separate loading, unloading, and cutting and trimming mechanisms similar to those previously described are provided for each circumferential series of molds; on the other hand, only a single drive and timing mechanism, pressure belt and rubber feeding mechanism are required for the synchronous. operation of all units, thereby effecting a material saving in construction cost, maintenance and oor space. s

Various other changes, which will nowy become apparent to those skilled in the art, may be made in the procedural steps of the method, and in the form, details of construction and arrangement of the parts of the machine, without departing from the spirit of the invention. .Reference is therefore to be had to the appended claims ior a definition of the limits of the invention.

What is claimed isz.

. 1. In a machine for molding objects of rubber and securing the same to fabric, the combination of a member having a pluraltiy of spaced molds formed therein, meansA for loading charges of uncured rubber into said molds, means for bring.-

ing a continuous strip of fabricginto contact with'v said member and the exposedsurfaces of the rubber in said molds, means for applying pressure against said fabric toforce it into contact with the exposed surfaces of said rubber and to maintain a molding pressure on the latter, means for heating the rubber in said molds during the application of said pressure and for a sufficient length of time to effect curing` and attachment of the rubber to the fabric by vulcanization, and means for removing the fabric strip and adhering molded rubber objects from said member.

2. In a machine for molding objects of. rubber and securing the same to fabric. the combination of a rotatable member having a plurality of circumferentially spacedl molds yformed in the periphery thereof, means for vfeeding charges of uncured rubber into said molds, an endless belt surrounding a substantialr portion of the periphery of 'said rotatable member, means for introducing a continuous strip of fabric between said belt and the periphery of said rotatable member and over said charges of rubber in said molds, means for placing said belt under tension so as to exert a pressure against said fabric forcing it into contact with the exposed surfaces of said rubber and maintaining a molding pressure on the'latter, means for heating the rubber in said molds during the application of said pressure and for a sufficient length of time to effect curing and attachment of the rubber to the fabric by vulcanization, and means for removing. the fabric strip and adhering molded rubber objects from said rotatable member.

.3. In a machine for molding objects of rubber and securing the same to fabric, the,combination of a rotatable member having a plurality of circumferentially spaced molds formed in the periphery thereof, means for feeding charges of uncured rubber into said molds, means for bringing a continuous strip of fabric into contact with the periphery of said member and the exposed surfaces of the rubber in said molds, means for exerting a molding pressure on said rubberv through said fabric strip at the point where the latter first contacts said rotatable member,

means for applying additional' pressure against said fabric throughout a substantial portion of the periphery of said rotatable member so as to maintain contact between the fabric and the exposed surfaces of said rubber, means for heatv ing-said member through distances equal to the distance between successive molds, means for loading charges of uncured rubber into` said molds during the time that said member is at rest, means vfor bringing a continuous strip of fabric into contact with thel periphery of said member and the exposed surfaces of the rubber in said molds, meansfor applying pressure against said fabric forcing it into contact with the exposed surfaces of saidrubber and maintaining a molding pressure on the latter, means for heating theI rubber in said molds during the application of said pressure and for a suicient,

length of time to effect curing and attachment of the rubber to the fabric byv vulcanization, means for removing the fabric strip and adhering molded rubber objects -i'rom said rotatable 

